Zhang Qiongyu's arrival was met with another warm welcome from the Li family.
Zhang Qiongyu felt quite embarrassed. She wasn't playing hard to get; she genuinely wanted to stabilize her job first. However, the Li family's enthusiasm made her feel a pang of guilt.
Li Weixin eased the atmosphere, saying, "From today onwards, Qiongyu and I are just ordinary friends. Please don't scare Qiongyu, family."
The Li family paused for a moment, then all smiled and urged her to eat.
Tian Jing placed a chicken drumstick in front of her, saying, "Since she's Ranran's friend, don't be shy."
Ouyang Meihua added a chicken wing, "That's right, come to our house and eat freely. We're all easygoing people."
Li Wanzhen offered a piece of cured fish, "Try this, we cured it ourselves, it's delicious."
Li Wanting served a piece of braised pork, "This is a Li family specialty. Come visit often when you have time, and we can talk about this dish then."
Li Weili also served her food.
Li Sixuan served her food.
Soon, the empty plates in front of Zhang Qiongyu were piled high.
Her heart, too, was filled to the brim with the Li family's warmth.
Li Weixin smiled, "Don't worry, just leave whatever you can't finish."
What will be, will be.
Since Captain Li had explained, and the Li family's enthusiasm hadn't waned, she should just relax. Wasn't agreeing to be friends also giving Captain Li an opportunity?
"Thank you, everyone."
Zhang Qiongyu smiled at the Li family, "If I have time, I'll come over for meals again. The food is delicious."
Her words made Li Weixin and the Li family smile even wider.
The meal was warm and harmonious.
After dinner, Li Wanting and Li Sixuan chatted with Zhang Qiongyu. It was the first time they had met.
Zhang Qiongyu was no longer nervous or guilty. The Li family were all very approachable (except for the family head who didn't talk much).
She couldn't help but notice Li Sixuan's mask and asked out of curiosity, "Why are you wearing a mask to eat?"
Li Sixuan opened her mouth, her mask having an opening at the mouth, "Because I don't want to show my disfigured appearance."
"Ah?"
Zhang Qiongyu covered her mouth, "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to, I..."
Zhang Qiongyu was flustered. She had lost her composure because she felt relaxed and had casually asked an inappropriate question, revealing someone's scar.
"It's okay, I... Huh?"
Li Sixuan hadn't expected Zhang Qiongyu to be so nervous.
Li Weixin, who was bringing in tea, put down the tray and pulled off her niece's mask, "You've already settled things with Mai Xingyang, so why are you still wearing a mask? Isn't it awkward?"
Zhang Qiongyu's eyes widened as she looked at Li Sixuan's delicate and beautiful face. Was this exquisite beauty the result of disfigurement?
Li Wanting also looked at Li Sixuan in surprise. Hadn't they said she was disfigured? It had made them so cautious when speaking, afraid of saying the wrong thing.
Mai Xingyang, who had been coming over to mooch meals from the Li family whenever he had the chance since he and Li Sixuan confirmed their relationship, followed Li Weixin. He rushed to stop Li Weixin from pulling Xuanxuan's mask, but was startled by reality:
"Xuanxuan..."
Li Sixuan slowly turned around to complain, "Grandma, Little Uncle is bullying me."
Tian Jing, who was in the kitchen, hurried over and saw that her granddaughter's mask was off. Several people on the sofa were looking at her granddaughter in shock. She chided her youngest son, who was holding the mask,
"You're an elder, why are you teasing a junior? You're making Teacher Zhang laugh."
Zhang Qiongyu finally came to her senses, "I'm fine, it's just Xuanxuan she..."
"I'm fine too."
Li Sixuan interrupted her and reached out to Li Weixin, "Give it back to me."
Li Weixin handed the mask to Mai Xingyang, "Aren't you going to question her? She's a little liar who fooled everyone."
Mai Xingyang took the mask, squatted in front of Li Sixuan, and gently put it back on her, "Xuanxuan didn't lie. You just didn't see the marks on her face."
"You saw them?"
Li Sixuan asked the man in front of her nervously.
"I saw them."
Mai Xingyang's eyes were filled with heartache, "I know it's best that you've recovered this much. Wearing a mask is better; you don't need to cover it with foundation."
Li Sixuan was a little displeased, "Why is your eyesight so good?"
"It's not my eyesight that's good."
Mai Xingyang explained gently, "It's a matter of angle. My angle earlier made it easier to notice the faint white marks than looking directly. Don't be afraid, my Xuanxuan will always be a delicate and beautiful doll."
Li Sixuan blushed. How could Brother Xingyang call her a doll in front of so many people?
Li Sixuan, with a blush on her face, looked even more charming, making Mai Xingyang stare.
Li Sixuan poked his forehead with her finger, "Move over, you're blocking me from talking to Teacher Zhang."
"Okay, okay, I'll move," Mai Xingyang said, then squeezed in beside her.
Hearing their conversation, Li Wanting knew she had misunderstood Xuanxuan and quickly apologized, "Xuanxuan, I'm sorry, I couldn't tell. I thought..."
"Aunt didn't notice?" Li Sixuan's eyes curved into a smile.
Seeing Li Wanting nod, her eyes curved even more, "That's good, that's good. I was scared by Brother Xingyang and thought the marks were very severe."
Li Wanting knew her niece didn't want her to continue apologizing, "I can't see anything at all. If you don't believe me, ask Qiongyu."
Zhang Qiongyu nodded repeatedly, "I thought you had undergone plastic surgery."
"Hahaha."
Li Sixuan laughed heartily, "This is my original face, aren't you envious?"
Zhang Qiongyu nodded foolishly.
Li Sixuan's eyes turned into crescent moons, "This is the Li family's genes. If you and my Little Uncle get together, your children will surely be even more handsome."
"I'm the only girl in this generation of the Li family. You and Little Uncle, please try your best. I've been hoping for a sister for over ten years, and my hopes are pinned on you."
Boom!
Zhang Qiongyu felt all the blood rush to her face, making her hands and feet feel restless.
"Xuanxuan~"
Li Weixin called out to her niece helplessly, then waved at Mai Xingyang, "Take her to the room and teach her a lesson."
"Yes!"
Mai Xingyang responded vigorously, got up, pulled Li Sixuan away, and when Li Sixuan used the phrase 'only obey me', he pacified her with the phrase 'obey the captain's orders' and led her into the west room.
Watching the west room door close, Li Weixin's gaze returned to Zhang Qiongyu, "I'll take you back to school."
"No, no."
Zhang Qiongyu stood up, "I'll go back by myself. Aunt, I'll be leaving now."
Tian Jing nodded, "Ask Ranran to see you off."
With Captain Tian's request, Zhang Qiongyu couldn't refuse. She left the main hall, bid farewell to Li Liguo and Ouyang Meihua in the kitchen, and then left the Li family with Li Weixin.
Halfway there, Li Weixin apologized, "I'm sorry, when we Li family members are together, we speak very casually. Elders and juniors also make harmless jokes."
"It's okay."
Zhang Qiongyu's face grew hotter, because what flashed in her mind was not only Li Sixuan's delicate face but also Li Sixuan's words.
Li Sixuan's words made her feel shy, but also a hint of hope. What if her daughter was as beautiful as Li Sixuan...
Oh no, what was she thinking?
"Are you really okay?"
Li Weixin asked, staring at her increasingly red face.
"It's fine, it's fine, I'm leaving now, don't bother seeing me off."
Saying that, Zhang Qiongyu ran off.
Li Weixin chased after her, not entirely at ease, until Zhang Qiongyu entered the school gate, then she turned to go home.